JP2005100938A - Manufacturing method for spark plug - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the precision of the coaxiality of a center electrode with a precious metal chip after a provisional bending process in a spark plug in which the precious metal chip is joined to an earth electrode. <P>SOLUTION: A searcher 81 is arranged in face to face with the tip surface of the center electrode 12. The earth electrode 13 is provisionally bent by pressing the earth electrode 13 against the searcher 81 from the opposite direction to the central electrode 12 by using a bend punch 90. In the provisional bending, the position in the X direction of the precious metal chip 14 after the provisional bending is adjusted in every work by adjusting the position of the searcher 81 in the X direction perpendicular to the center electrode axis Z1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spark plug to be assembled in an internal combustion engine mounted on an automobile or the like.

  In the conventional spark plug, the columnar center electrode is insulated and held inside the housing, one end of the ground electrode is joined to the housing, and the other end of the ground electrode is bent at the front end surface of the center electrode. It is arranged to face.

The ground electrode is processed so that the spark gap is slightly larger than the standard in the provisional bending process, and then processed so that the spark gap is within the standard in the main bending process. Then, the position of the tip surface of the center electrode is measured before the main bending step, and the bending amount of the ground electrode is determined based on the measurement result (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-164320 A

  However, according to the method described in Document 1, the position in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis on the other end (free end) side of the ground electrode becomes a result. Therefore, in the spark plug in which the noble metal tip is joined to the ground electrode, the position in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis of the noble metal tip is also consequential, so the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip is reduced, This was one of the factors that reduced the ignition performance of the spark plug.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process in the spark plug in which the noble metal tip is joined to the ground electrode. .

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held in the housing (10), the ground electrode (13) is joined to the housing, and the columnar electrode is connected to the ground electrode. The noble metal tip (14) is joined, and the ground electrode is a straight plate member extending in the direction of the axis (Z1) of the center electrode before the temporary bending, and the free end side of the ground electrode is approximately the center electrode axis. A spark plug manufacturing method in which a noble metal tip is temporarily bent to an orthogonal angle and is disposed to face the front end surface (12a) of the center electrode, and the searcher (81, 82) faces the front end surface of the center electrode. ) And using a bending punch (90) to press the ground electrode against the searcher from the side opposite to the center electrode, thereby temporarily bending the ground electrode. The position of the direction (X) perpendicular to the center electrode axis of Cha, and adjusting for each workpiece.

  According to this, the position of the noble metal tip in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis can be adjusted for each workpiece, and the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process can be increased.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), the ground electrode (13) is joined to the housing, and the columnar noble metal tip (14) is connected to the ground electrode. The ground electrode is a straight plate member that extends in the axis (Z1) direction of the center electrode before being temporarily bent, and is temporarily bent to an angle at which the free end side of the ground electrode is substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis. A spark plug manufacturing method in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the front end surface (12a) of the center electrode, and includes a holder (20) for holding a workpiece and a center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder. A holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder around the center, and the center electrode axis when the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder is viewed from a predetermined direction (X) perpendicular to the center electrode axis A positioning step for adjusting the position of the workpiece with respect to the holder so that the ground electrode substantially overlaps, and a direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis of the center electrode axis and the ground electrode when the workpiece is viewed from a predetermined direction after the positioning step ( Y) The position measurement step for measuring the first deviation amount (S) by image processing, and the holder is rotated by the holder driving device based on the measurement result in the measurement step, so that the first deviation amount is reduced. And a position correcting step for correcting the position of the electrode.

  According to this, since the positional relationship between the camera for image processing and each electrode is accurately set, it is possible to improve the accuracy of various measurements by subsequent image processing, for example, the measurement accuracy of the joining position of the noble metal tip. And by performing temporary bending based on a highly accurate measurement result in this way, for example, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process can be increased.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), the ground electrode (13) is joined to the housing, and the columnar noble metal tip (14) is connected to the ground electrode. The ground electrode is a straight plate member that extends in the axis (Z1) direction of the center electrode before being temporarily bent, and is temporarily bent to an angle at which the free end side of the ground electrode is substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis. A spark plug manufacturing method in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the front end surface (12a) of the center electrode, and includes a holder (20) for holding a workpiece and a center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder. An inclination measuring step for measuring the inclination of the ground electrode of the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder with respect to the center electrode axis line, and a holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder about the center; And having a tilt correction step of correcting the inclination of the ground electrode so as to reduce the inclination based on the measurement result of the measuring step.

  According to this, since the positional relationship between the ground electrode before the temporary bending and the center electrode axis is accurately set, for example, the measurement accuracy of the joining position of the noble metal tip can be improved. And by performing temporary bending based on a highly accurate measurement result in this way, for example, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process can be increased.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), the ground electrode (13) is joined to the housing, and the columnar noble metal tip (14) is connected to the ground electrode. The ground electrode is a straight plate member that extends in the axis (Z1) direction of the center electrode before being temporarily bent, and is temporarily bent to an angle at which the free end side of the ground electrode is substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis. A spark plug manufacturing method in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the front end surface (12a) of the center electrode, and includes a holder (20) for holding a workpiece and a center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder. A holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder around the center, and the center electrode axis when the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder is viewed from a predetermined direction (X) perpendicular to the center electrode axis A positioning step for adjusting the position of the workpiece with respect to the holder so that the ground electrode substantially overlaps, and a direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis of the center electrode axis and the ground electrode when the workpiece is viewed from a predetermined direction after the positioning step ( Y) The position measurement step for measuring the first deviation amount (S) by image processing, and the holder is rotated by the holder driving device based on the measurement result in the measurement step, so that the first deviation amount is reduced. Based on the position correction process for correcting the position of the electrode, the inclination measurement process for measuring the inclination of the ground electrode before the temporary bending with respect to the center electrode axis line by image processing after the position correction process, and the measurement result in the inclination measurement process The inclination correction step of correcting the inclination of the ground electrode so as to reduce the inclination, and after the inclination correction step, the searchers (81, 82) are made to face the tip surface of the center electrode. And temporarily bending the ground electrode by pressing the ground electrode against the searcher from the side opposite to the center electrode using a bending punch (90), and the searcher in the temporary bending step The position in the direction (X) perpendicular to the central electrode axis is adjusted for each workpiece.

  According to this, the position of the noble metal tip in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis can be adjusted for each workpiece, and the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process can be increased.

  Moreover, since the positional relationship between the ground electrode before the temporary bending and the center electrode axis is accurately set, for example, the measurement accuracy of the joining position of the noble metal tip can be improved. And by performing temporary bending based on a highly accurate measurement result in this way, for example, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode and the noble metal tip after the temporary bending process can be increased.

  As in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the position of the noble metal tip (14) in the direction (X) perpendicular to the center electrode axis (Z1) of the searcher (81, 82) in the temporary bending step is F1), the dimension (F2) in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis from the tip surface of the noble metal tip before provisional bending to the center electrode axis, and the axis (Z3) of the noble metal tip before provisional bending to the center electrode (12 ) And the dimension (E4) in the axial direction of the central electrode up to the tip surface (12a).

  In the invention according to claim 6, the bending amount of the ground electrode (13) in the temporary bending step is determined in consideration of the spring back amount of the ground electrode when released from the pressing by the bending punch (90). Features.

  According to this, the accuracy of the parallelism between the tip surface of the ground electrode-side noble metal tip and the tip surface of the center electrode after the provisional bending process can be increased by excessively bending the ground electrode in anticipation of the springback amount.

  As in the invention described in claim 7, in the temporary bending step, the grounding electrode (13) is temporarily bent by moving the bending punch (90) in an oblique direction with respect to the center electrode axis. Can be easily implemented.

  As in the invention according to claim 8, in the temporary bending step, the bending punch (90) is moved in the direction perpendicular to the central electrode axis (Z1) in the direction of the central electrode axis and the central electrode. The invention according to claim 6 can be easily carried out by moving in a direction approaching the tip surface (12a) of (12).

  In the invention according to claim 9, the main bending step of adjusting the spark gap in the central electrode axial direction (Z1) between the noble metal tip (14) and the tip surface (12a) of the central electrode (12) after the temporary bending step is performed. A spark plug manufacturing method to be performed, wherein the position adjustment direction of the searcher (81, 82) in the provisional bending step is the searcher movement direction among the directions orthogonal to the center electrode axis, and the precious metal after the main bending step The second displacement amount (S2) in the searcher movement direction between the tip and the tip surface of the center electrode is measured, and the position of the searcher in the temporary bending process when the workpiece is processed next is corrected based on the second displacement amount. It is characterized by that.

  According to this, since the information on the second shift amount is fed back when the next workpiece is processed, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode of the next workpiece and the noble metal tip can be further increased.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a spark plug manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention in a half section. As shown in FIG. 1, the spark plug 1 has a substantially cylindrical housing 10 made of a conductive steel material. The housing 10 has a substantially cylindrical insulator 11 made of an insulating ceramic. Insertion is fixed. A substantially cylindrical center electrode 12 made of a conductive metal material is inserted and fixed in the shaft hole of the insulator 11. A plate-shaped ground electrode 13 made of a Ni-based alloy is joined to the housing 10, and a columnar noble metal tip 14 made of, for example, an Ir (iridium) alloy excellent in spark wear resistance is joined to the ground electrode 13. .

  The ground electrode 13 is a linear plate member as indicated by a broken line before the temporary bending, and extends in the direction of the axis Z1 of the center electrode 12. Further, the ground electrode 13 is processed into a substantially L shape by provisional bending, and further bent as shown by a solid line by main bending, so that the spark gap G is processed into a predetermined dimension. In other words, the ground electrode 13 has a leg portion 13a extending substantially parallel to the center electrode axis Z1 and a facing portion 13b extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1, and the noble metal tip 14 is the center electrode 12. And a predetermined spark gap G is formed between the noble metal tip 14 and the center electrode 12 in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a preparatory processing apparatus used in a preparatory stage before provisional bending. As shown in FIG. 2, this apparatus includes a holder 20 for fixing and holding a work (spark plug 1) with a spark gap G portion facing upward, and a center electrode axis Z <b> 1 of the work held by the holder 20. A holder driving device 30 that rotates 20, two cameras 41 and 42 that photograph the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13, an image processing means 50 that processes video signals output from the cameras 41 and 42, and image processing Based on the signal from the means 50, it comprises a holder driving device 30 and a control means 60 for controlling other driving devices to be described later. The holder driving device 30 uses a servo motor.

  The image processing means 50 is composed of an image processing device incorporating a general-purpose image processing processor, processes the video signals output from the cameras 41 and 42 according to a predetermined algorithm, and displays the center electrode 12 displayed on the video signals and the ground. The position of the electrode 13 or the like can be recognized by coordinates.

  The control means 60 is composed of, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC) or the like, and controls the holder driving device 30 or the like based on information obtained from the image processing means 50 to control the operation of the holder 20 or the like. It has become.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cameras 41 and 42 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the two cameras 41 and 42 are configured to photograph the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 from the two orthogonal directions before the temporary bending. The shooting direction of the first camera 41 is a first orthogonal direction X perpendicular to the center electrode axis Z1, and the shooting direction of the second camera 42 is a second orthogonal orthogonal to both the center electrode axis Z1 and the first orthogonal direction X. Direction Y.

  FIG. 4 shows a part of the preparatory processing apparatus. The preparatory processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes correction punches 71 and 72 and punch driving apparatuses 73 and 74 shown in FIG.

  The first correction punch 71 is opposed to the chip bonding surface 13c to which the noble metal chip 14 is bonded in the ground electrode 13 before temporary bending, and is in the first orthogonal direction by the first correction punch driving device 73 controlled by the control means 60. Driven to X.

  The second correction punch 72 faces the surface 13d (hereinafter referred to as the anti-chip bonding surface) where the noble metal tip 14 is not bonded to the ground electrode 13 before temporary bending, and is controlled by the control means 60. Driven in the first orthogonal direction X by the drive device 74.

  The first correction punch driving device 73 and the second correction punch driving device 74 use servo motors or hydraulic / pneumatic cylinders.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a temporary bending apparatus for performing temporary bending, and FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of FIG. This temporary bending apparatus is configured to process a workpiece that is still held by the preparatory processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the temporary bending apparatus includes two searchers 81, 82 arranged to face the tip end surface 12 a of the center electrode 12 and the chip bonding surface 13 c of the ground electrode 13, and the ground electrode 13. And a columnar temporary bending punch 90 disposed to face the anti-chip bonding surface 13d.

  The two searchers 81 and 82 are mounted on the searcher block 100 so as to be relatively movable in the second orthogonal direction Y, and the temporary bending punch 90 is mounted on the common block 101 so as to be relatively movable in the first orthogonal direction X. Has been. The searcher block 100 is mounted on the common block 101 so as to be relatively movable in the first orthogonal direction X.

  The common block 101 is driven in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 by the block Z-axis drive device 102. The searcher block 100 is driven in the first orthogonal direction X by a searcher X-axis drive device 83 fixed to the common block 101.

  The first searcher 81 is driven in the second orthogonal direction Y by the first searcher Y-axis drive device 84 fixed to the searcher block 100, and the second searcher 82 is driven to the second searcher Y-axis fixed to the searcher block 100. The device 85 is driven in the second orthogonal direction Y. The temporary bending punch 90 is driven in the first orthogonal direction X by a temporary bending punch driving device 91 fixed to the common block 101.

  When the temporary bending is performed, the tip portions 81a and 82a on the ground electrode 13 side of the two searchers 81 and 82 are brought into contact with the chip bonding surface 13c, and grounded from the anti-chip bonding surface 13d side by the temporary bending punch 90. By pressing the electrode 13, the ground electrode 13 is pressed against the surfaces 81b and 82b of the searchers 81 and 82 opposite to the center electrode (hereinafter referred to as surfaces opposite to the center electrode).

  In addition, the two searchers 81 and 82 are provided with relief portions 81c and 82c for avoiding interference with the insulator 11 and the center electrode 12 during temporary bending, and interference with the noble metal tip 14 during temporary bending. Notches 81d and 82d are formed to avoid this.

  The drive devices 83, 84, 85, 91, and 102 of the temporary bending apparatus use servo motors or hydraulic / pneumatic cylinders.

  Hereinafter, the temporary bending process by the apparatus will be described in the order of steps.

(Positioning process)
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece before provisional bending is inserted into the holder 20 with the spark gap G portion facing upward. At this time, the position of the workpiece with respect to the holder 20 is adjusted so that the center electrode axis Z1 and the ground electrode 13 substantially overlap when the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 is viewed from the first camera 41 side.

(Position measurement process)
FIG. 7 is an image obtained by photographing the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 with the first camera 41 after the positioning step. The image processing means 50 processes the video signal sent from the first camera 41 after the positioning step, and the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1 between the center electrode axis Z1 and the axis Z2 of the ground electrode 13 (see FIG. 7). The first deviation amount S (see FIG. 7) is measured.

(Position correction process)
After the position measurement step, the position of the ground electrode 13 is corrected by rotating the holder 20 in a direction to reduce the first deviation amount S based on the measurement result in the position measurement step. Specifically, the first shift amount S is converted into an angle, and the holder 20 is rotated by the holder driving device 30 by the angle.

(Tilt measurement process)
FIG. 8 is an image obtained by photographing the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 with the second camera 42 after the position correcting step. The image processing means 50 processes the video signal sent from the second camera 42 after the position correction process, and measures the inclination of the ground electrode 13 before the temporary bending with respect to the center electrode axis Z1.

  This inclination is obtained as follows. As shown in FIG. 8, the dimensions A1 and A2 from the left end of the image to the anti-chip bonding surface 13d are measured at two positions shifted in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1, and the center of the ground electrode 13 is determined from these dimensions A1 and A2. The inclination with respect to the electrode axis Z1 is obtained. At this time, the dimension B1 from the right end of the image to the chip bonding surface 13c is measured.

(Tilt correction process)
After the inclination measurement step, the posture of the ground electrode 13 is corrected so as to reduce the inclination based on the measurement result in the inclination measurement step.

  Specifically, when A1-A2> 0, the ground electrode 13 is pushed from the chip bonding surface 13c side by the first correction punch 71, and when A1-A2 <0, the anti-chip bonding surface 13d is pressed by the second correction punch 72. The ground electrode 13 is pushed from the side. At this time, the movement distance C1 of the first correction punch 71 or the movement distance C2 of the second correction punch 72 is obtained as follows.

  When A1-A2> 0, C1 = B1 + (A1-A2) + SP1 + D1. Here, SP1 is the amount of springback, and D1 is the dimension from the tip surface on the ground electrode 13 side of the first correction punch 71 to the right end of the image when the first correction punch 71 is in the original position.

  When A1-A2 <0, C2 = (A2-A1) + SP1 + D2. Here, D2 is a dimension from the front end surface of the second correction punch 72 on the ground electrode 13 side to the left end of the image when the second correction punch 72 is in the original position. The dimensions D1 and D2 are stored in the image processing unit 50 in advance.

(Temporary bending process)
In this temporary bending step, the dimensions of the respective parts in the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 are measured again after the inclination correction step, and the target positions of the searchers 81 and 82 at the time of ground electrode temporary bending are calculated based on the measurement results. The grounders 13 are temporarily bent by moving the searchers 81 and 82.

  FIG. 9 is an image obtained by photographing the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 with the second camera 42 before the ground electrode temporary bending after the inclination correction process. The ground electrode 13 is processed into a substantially L shape as indicated by a broken line by provisional bending.

  Here, the reference numerals in FIG. 9 will be described. E1 is a target dimension in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 from the tip surface 12a of the center electrode 12 to the tip surface of the noble metal tip 14 after the ground electrode is temporarily bent, and is stored in advance in the image processing means 50. E2 is a target dimension in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 from the front end surface 12a of the center electrode 12 to the surfaces 81b and 82b on the side opposite to the center electrode of the searchers 81 and 82 when the ground electrode is temporarily bent. E3 is the center electrode from the surface 81b, 82b on the anti-center electrode side of each searcher 81, 82 at the time of ground electrode temporary bending to the axis Z3 (hereinafter referred to as the chip axis) of the noble metal tip 14 before the ground electrode is temporarily bent. The dimension in the direction of the axis Z1. E4 is a dimension in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 from the front end surface 12a of the center electrode 12 before the ground electrode temporary bending to the tip axis Z3 before the ground electrode temporary bending.

  F1 is the protruding height of the noble metal tip 14. F2 is a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1 from the tip surface of the noble metal tip 14 to the center electrode axis Z1 before the ground electrode is temporarily bent, in other words, a dimension in the first orthogonal direction X. H is a gap dimension in the first orthogonal direction X from the chip joint surface 13c of the ground electrode 13 before the ground electrode temporary bending to the tips 81a and 82a of the searchers 81 and 82 during the ground electrode temporary bending.

  The dimensions E2 and H as the target positions of the searchers 81 and 82 during temporary bending of the ground electrode are calculated as follows.

  E2 = E1 + F1-SP2. Here, SP2 is a springback amount in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1. Further, H = (F1 + F2)-(E4-E2) -SP3. Here, SP3 is a springback amount in the first orthogonal direction X.

  After positioning the searchers 81 and 82 based on the calculated dimensions E2 and H (state of FIG. 9), the temporary bending punch 90 is moved toward the center electrode 12 side along the first orthogonal direction X, thereby The ground electrode 13 is pushed from the chip bonding surface 13d side, the ground electrode 13 is bent at the intermediate portion as shown by a broken line in FIG. 9, and the ground electrode 13 is pressed against the surfaces 81b and 82b on the side opposite to the center electrode of the searchers 81 and 82.

  Thus, based on the calculated dimension E2, by positioning the surfaces 81b, 82b of the searchers 81, 82 on the side opposite to the central electrode in the direction of the central electrode axis Z1, and by temporarily bending the ground electrode 13, The dimension E1 after provisional bending can be made almost the target value.

  Further, the position of the noble metal tip 14 in the first orthogonal direction X after the temporary bending can be adjusted by the positions of the tip portions 81a and 82a of the searchers 81 and 82 in the first orthogonal direction X. Therefore, the center electrode 12 after the temporary bending is performed by positioning the tip portions 81a and 82a of the searchers 81 and 82 in the first orthogonal direction X based on the calculated dimension H and performing the temporary bending of the ground electrode 13. And the accuracy of the coaxiality between the noble metal tip 14 can be increased.

  Note that the position of the noble metal tip 14 in the first orthogonal direction X after the temporary bending is affected by the size of the corners of the tips 81a, 82a of the searchers 81, 82 and the surfaces 81b, 82b on the anti-center electrode side, When calculating the dimension H, it is desirable to perform correction in consideration of the influence.

  In the present embodiment described above, the position of the searchers 81 and 82 in the central electrode axis Z1 direction during temporary ground electrode bending is adjusted for each workpiece, so that the dimensional accuracy of the spark gap G after temporary ground electrode bending can be improved. .

  Further, since the positions of the searchers 81 and 82 in the first orthogonal direction X during the ground electrode temporary bending are adjusted for each workpiece, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode 12 and the noble metal tip 14 after the ground electrode temporary bending is increased. Can do.

  Further, the first correction amount S in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1 between the center electrode axis Z1 and the ground electrode axis Z2 is reduced in the position correction process, and the inclination of the ground electrode 13 with respect to the center electrode axis Z1 in the inclination correction process. Since the dimensions of the respective parts in the vicinity of both the electrodes 12 and 13 are again measured for the ground electrode temporary bending after the decrease in measurement, the measurement accuracy can be improved. And the precision of the coaxiality of a center electrode and a noble metal tip can be further improved by adjusting the position of the searchers 81 and 82 for every workpiece | work based on a highly accurate measurement result in this way.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing a provisional bending apparatus that performs provisional bending, FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a state in the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 during the provisional bending process, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of both the electrodes 12 and 13 after a bending process. The same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the common block 101 of the temporary bending apparatus (see FIGS. 5 and 6) in the first embodiment is divided into two, and one block is inclined so that the temporary bending punch 90 is moved to the center electrode axis Z1. Is moved in an oblique direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the temporary bending apparatus of the present embodiment, a first common block 103 and a second common block 104 are coupled to each other by a shaft 105 so as to be relatively rotatable.

  The first common block 103 and the second common block 104 are driven in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 by the block Z-axis drive device 102. Further, the angle of the second common block 104 with respect to the first common block 103 is adjusted by a block rotation driving device 106 fixed to the first common block 103. A searcher X-axis drive device 83 and a temporary bending punch drive device 91 are fixed to the second common block 104.

  In the temporary bending apparatus of the present embodiment, the second common block 104 is inclined with respect to the center electrode axis Z1, and therefore, the temporary bending punch 90 moves in an oblique direction with respect to the center electrode axis Z1. More specifically, the temporary bending punch 90 moves in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 and in the direction of approaching the front end surface 12a of the center electrode 12 in accordance with the movement in the direction X orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1.

  When the temporary bending punch 90 is moved in this way, as shown in FIG. 11A, the ground electrode 13 is bent to an acute angle in the latter half region of the temporary bending process. And as shown in FIG.11 (b), when the temporary bending process is complete | finished and the ground electrode 13 will be released from the press by the temporary bending punch 90, a bending angle will be expanded by spring back.

  Here, the ground electrode 13 in the provisional bending process is set so that the tip joint surface 13c to which the noble metal tip 14 is joined in the ground electrode 13 is substantially perpendicular to the center electrode axis Z1 in a state where the bending angle is expanded by the spring back. The amount of bending is set.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the bending amount of the ground electrode 13 in the provisional bending process is determined in consideration of the spring back amount of the ground electrode 13, in other words, the ground electrode 13 is excessively set in anticipation of the spring back amount. By bending, the accuracy of the parallelism between the tip surface of the noble metal tip 14 after the provisional bending step and the tip surface 12a of the center electrode 12 is increased.

  Note that the inclination angle of the second common block 104 with respect to the center electrode axis Z1 may be changed for each workpiece.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is an image obtained by photographing the vicinity of both electrodes 12, 13 from the second orthogonal direction Y (see FIG. 3) after the main bending process. The same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 12, among the directions orthogonal to the center electrode axis Z1, the position adjustment direction (first orthogonal direction X) of the searchers 81 and 82 (see FIG. 5) in the temporary bending process is set as the searcher movement direction. At this time, the amount of shift in the searcher movement direction between the noble metal tip 14 and the tip surface 12a of the center electrode 12 after the main bending step is defined as a second shift amount S2. Incidentally, the second shift amount S2 is obtained by image processing.

  In the present embodiment, after the main bending step of adjusting the spark gap in the direction of the center electrode axis Z1 between the noble metal tip 14 of the ground electrode 13 and the front end surface 12a of the center electrode 12, the second shift amount S2 is measured, and this second Information on the deviation S2 is fed back when the next workpiece is machined.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12, when the noble metal tip 14 is shifted to the leg 13a (see FIG. 1) side of the ground electrode 13 from the center electrode axis Z1, provisional bending is performed when the next workpiece is processed. The positions of the searchers 81 and 82 in the process are corrected in a direction away from the leg portion 13a of the ground electrode 13.

  On the other hand, when the noble metal tip 14 is shifted to the side opposite to the leg portion 13a with respect to the center electrode axis Z1, the positions of the searchers 81 and 82 in the temporary bending process when processing the next workpiece are determined. Correction is made so as to approach the portion 13a.

  Thus, by feeding back the information of the second shift amount S2 when processing the next workpiece, the accuracy of the coaxiality between the center electrode 12 and the noble metal tip 14 of the next workpiece can be further increased.

It is a front view which shows the spark plug manufactured by the manufacturing method of this invention in a half section. It is a typical front view which shows the preparatory processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of cameras 41 and 42 in FIG. 2. It is a typical front view which shows a part of preparatory processing apparatus of FIG. It is a typical front view which shows the temporary bending processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the image which image | photographed both electrodes 12 and 13 vicinity with the 1st camera 41 after the positioning process. It is a figure which shows the image which image | photographed both electrode 12 and 13 vicinity with the 2nd camera 42 after the position correction process. It is a figure which shows the image which image | photographed both electrode 12 and 13 vicinity with the 2nd camera 42 before the ground electrode temporary bending after an inclination correction process. It is a typical front view which shows the temporary bending process apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the state of both electrodes 12 and 13 vicinity in the middle of a temporary bending process, (b) is a figure which shows the state of both electrodes 12 and 13 vicinity after a temporary bending process. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image obtained by photographing the vicinity of both electrodes 12 and 13 with a camera from a second orthogonal direction Y after the main bending step, for use in explaining the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing, 12 ... Center electrode, 12a ... Tip surface of center electrode, 13 ... Ground electrode, 14 ... Precious metal tip, 81, 82 ... Searcher, 90 ... Temporary bending punch, Z1 ... Center electrode axis.

Claims (9)

A columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), a ground electrode (13) is bonded to the housing, a columnar noble metal tip (14) is bonded to the ground electrode, and the ground electrode is It is a linear plate member extending in the direction of the axis (Z1) of the center electrode at the time before provisional bending, and the free end side of the ground electrode is provisionally bent to an angle substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis, A method of manufacturing a spark plug in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the tip surface (12a) of the center electrode,
The searchers (81, 82) are arranged to face the front end surface of the center electrode, and the ground electrode is pressed against the searcher from the side opposite to the center electrode by using a bending punch (90). Having a provisional bending step of provisionally bending the electrode;
A method for manufacturing a spark plug, characterized in that the position of the searcher in the direction (X) perpendicular to the central electrode axis of the searcher is adjusted for each workpiece. A columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), a ground electrode (13) is bonded to the housing, a columnar noble metal tip (14) is bonded to the ground electrode, and the ground electrode is It is a linear plate member extending in the direction of the axis (Z1) of the center electrode at the time before provisional bending, the free end side of the ground electrode is provisionally bent to an angle substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis, A method of manufacturing a spark plug in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the tip surface (12a) of the center electrode,
A holder (20) for holding the workpiece, and a holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder around the center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder;
The center electrode axis and the ground electrode substantially overlap each other when the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder is viewed from a predetermined direction (X) orthogonal to the center electrode axis. A positioning process for adjusting the position of the workpiece;
After the positioning step, a first shift amount (S) in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the center electrode axis between the center electrode axis and the ground electrode when the workpiece is viewed from the predetermined direction is measured by image processing. A position measuring process to perform,
A position correcting step of correcting the position of the ground electrode so as to reduce the first deviation amount by rotating the holder by the holder driving device based on a measurement result in the measuring step. Manufacturing method of spark plug. A columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), a ground electrode (13) is bonded to the housing, a columnar noble metal tip (14) is bonded to the ground electrode, and the ground electrode is It is a linear plate member extending in the direction of the axis (Z1) of the center electrode at the time before provisional bending, and the free end side of the ground electrode is provisionally bent to an angle substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis, A method of manufacturing a spark plug in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the tip surface (12a) of the center electrode,
A holder (20) for holding the workpiece, and a holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder around the center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder;
An inclination measuring step of measuring an inclination of the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder with respect to the center electrode axis of the ground electrode;
And a tilt correcting step of correcting the tilt of the ground electrode so as to reduce the tilt based on a measurement result in the tilt measuring step. A columnar center electrode (12) is insulated and held inside the housing (10), a ground electrode (13) is bonded to the housing, a columnar noble metal tip (14) is bonded to the ground electrode, and the ground electrode is It is a linear plate member extending in the direction of the axis (Z1) of the center electrode at the time before provisional bending, the free end side of the ground electrode is provisionally bent to an angle substantially orthogonal to the center electrode axis, A method of manufacturing a spark plug in which a noble metal tip is disposed to face the tip surface (12a) of the center electrode,
A holder (20) for holding the workpiece, and a holder driving device (30) for rotating the holder around the center electrode axis of the workpiece held by the holder;
The center electrode axis and the ground electrode substantially overlap each other when the workpiece before temporary bending held by the holder is viewed from a predetermined direction (X) orthogonal to the center electrode axis. A positioning process for adjusting the position of the workpiece;
After the positioning step, a first shift amount (S) in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the center electrode axis between the center electrode axis and the ground electrode when the workpiece is viewed from the predetermined direction is measured by image processing. A position measuring process to perform,
A position correcting step of correcting the position of the ground electrode by rotating the holder by the holder driving device based on the measurement result in the measuring step so as to reduce the first deviation amount;
An inclination measurement step of measuring an inclination of the ground electrode before the temporary bending with respect to the center electrode axis line by image processing after the position correction step is completed;
An inclination correction step of correcting the inclination of the ground electrode so as to reduce the inclination based on the measurement result in the inclination measurement step;
After the tilt correction step, the searchers (81, 82) are arranged to face the front end surface of the center electrode, and the ground electrode is opposite to the center electrode with respect to the searcher using a bending punch (90). A temporary bending step of performing temporary bending of the ground electrode by pressing from the side,
A method for manufacturing a spark plug, characterized in that the position of the searcher in the direction (X) perpendicular to the central electrode axis in the temporary bending step is adjusted for each workpiece. In the temporary bending step, the position of the searcher (81, 82) in the direction (X) orthogonal to the central electrode axis (Z1) is defined as the protrusion height (F1) of the noble metal tip (14) and the temporary From the front end surface of the noble metal tip before bending to the center electrode axis, the dimension (F2) in the direction orthogonal to the center electrode axis, and the axis (Z3) of the noble metal tip before temporary bending to the center electrode ( 5. The method for manufacturing a spark plug according to claim 1, wherein the spark plug is determined based on the dimension (E4) in the axial direction of the central electrode up to the tip surface (12 a) of 12). A bending amount of the ground electrode (13) in the temporary bending step is determined in consideration of a spring back amount of the ground electrode when released from pressing by the bending punch (90). A method for manufacturing a spark plug according to any one of 1 to 5. The spark plug according to claim 6, wherein in the temporary bending step, the ground electrode (13) is temporarily bent by moving the bending punch (90) in an oblique direction with respect to the central electrode axis. Manufacturing method. In the temporary bending step, the bending punch (90) is moved in the direction orthogonal to the central electrode axis (Z1), and the distal end surface of the central electrode (12) is in the central electrode axial direction. The spark plug manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein the spark plug is moved in a direction approaching (12a). Manufacture of a spark plug for performing a final bending step of adjusting a spark gap in the central electrode axial direction (Z1) between the noble metal tip (14) and the tip surface (12a) of the central electrode (12) after the temporary bending step. A method,
Of the directions orthogonal to the central electrode axis, when the position adjustment direction of the searcher (81, 82) in the temporary bending step is the searcher movement direction,
Measuring the second displacement amount (S2) in the searcher movement direction between the noble metal tip and the tip surface of the center electrode after the main bending step;
The method for manufacturing a spark plug according to claim 1, wherein the position of the searcher in the temporary bending step when machining a workpiece is corrected based on the second deviation amount.

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